Package



P 1941- H. N. MOORE 2,255,432

PACKAGE Filed March 24, 1937 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 V1 1 1 1 1 1g a Y 17 ///////////////W/ ///LZ Patented Sept. 9, 1941 PACKAGE Howard N elson Moore, Washington, D. 0., assignor of one-half to Mrs. Howard Kirkpatrick Moore, Washington, D. 0.

Application March 24, 1937, Serial No. 132,839

13 Claims.

The present invention concerns the packaging of a number of relatively small objects or articles. It is an object of the invention to provide a package of a number of articles individually wrapped.

It is an object of the invention to provide a package containing a number of articles each of which is sealed against contamination in a sanitary and hygienic manner.

It is an object of the invention to provide a package in which all the contents are individually sealed and wherein the removal of one article does not expose any of the other articles.

It is an object of the invention to provide a spiral wrapper for mints, lozenges, medicaments or any objects which lend themselves to this type of package, whereby the strip is wrapped about the articles in a tight spiral such that by folding portions of the wrapper strip between the individual articles, 'these articles are separated from each other and individually packaged. This wrapper strip, which may be of any well-known wrapping material such as paper, treated or otherwise, metal foil, regenerated cellulose, or any protein base material or equivalents.

In the drawing wherein like numbers refer to like parts- Fig. 1 is a plan View of a portion of one form of wrapper strip.

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are modifications of the strip shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the Wrapper strip shown in Fig. 1 applied to a package of candy mints.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of a plain wrapper strip without.

An elongate wrapper strip Ill made of wax paper, metal foil, Cellophane or the like and having a width much smaller than its length is provided at one edge with slits II forming tongues I2. The articles to be wrapped are assembled and the strip I!) wrapped about the first one with the tongue portions l2 extending upward. The strip II] is wrapped at an angle to the plane of the objects I3 so that it forms a helix as shown by lines I4. This helix I4 may be as flat or as extended as is desired depending upon the thoroughness of the wrap required. It may well be flatter than shown in Fig. 5. As the strip moves upward along the side of articles I3 due to its helical formation, tongues I2 extend above the upper surface of the first of articles I3. This projection of the tongues I2 increases more and more as the wrapper I ll is wrapped about the article. The tongues I2 are bent over as shown at article. Where the article has a center hole the tongues may be made long enough to cover the inner surface of such aperture. This spiral wrapping of strip I8 and the folding down of tongues I2 is continued until the entire upper surface of the first article is covered to the extent desired. The second article is then superimposed upon the first but is separated therefrom by the folded tongues I2. At the time the second article is put in position there is an upstanding tongue such as It which may act as a guide together with adjacent unbent tongues to center or position the second article. Strictly speaking, I6 is not such a tongue because the top article in Fig. 5 has not been completely covered. The wrapping is continued until the tongues I2 again begin to appear above the upper surface of the second article. This may be at once or delayed a portion of a rotation depending upon the relative Width of the wrapper Ill as compared with articles I3 and the lead of the helix. The tongues are I5 so as to cover the upper surface of the wrapped again folded in as above described and the operation continued until the desired number of articles are wrapped in the package. In this way all of the articles are individually wrapped and both ends of the package covered. If it is desired, an additional cylinder wrap may be placed around the wrapped strip I0.

If desired strip I0 may be provided with a wax coating or may be made of heat sealed Cellophane or the like and the entire package sealed with one application of heat or sealing material. Of coursethe folds. tongues and laps may be bent or otherwise sealed as the package is built up if desired. If desired an opening string or ripping means may be provided at one end. The spiral may be flattened off and after the top article is covered one of the tongues I2 may be allowed to project as a tearing tip. Again, a tearing string may be included. When the package is opened from this end the strip It may be easily unspiraled and the objects removed as desired. If however, the package should be opened from the othe end, all of the objects are still individually wrapped and none are unnecessarily exposed even though the package may be less easily opened.

If desired the tongues I2 may be made of sufiicient length to reach the center of an article Where it has no center hole. The width of the strip is such as to allow for the required length of tongue necessary, for the thickness of the article to be wrapped and an overlap with the article next below.

Fig. 3 has slits I I along one edge at an angle thereto. This angle is such that upon being folded over the tongues may be folded radially at all times. The departure of the slits H from a perpendicular with the edge 18 is exaggerated in Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 discloses another modificaton wherein score lines l9 correspond to the line of fold over the edge of the article for protection purposes. In Fig. 5 it would be the line of fold On the tongues. It follows that Fig. 4 can be combined with any of Figs. 1, 2 and 3. When using Fig. 4 alone and unnotched it is necessary to twist the strip between successive score lines 19. That is, after the first article is wrapped and the strip folded over along line 19 it is found desirable to twist the strip in order to bring the second line 19 to bear on the edge of the second article. However, the strip may be crimped instead of twisted if desired.

Fig. 6 discloses an unscored un-slitted wrapper. The folded part is crimped or pleated as at 2B. The sharp transition at 2| requires a somewhat larger fold than shown at 2E].

The drawing is merely illustrative of one form of the invention and is in no sense to be treated as limiting. The claims are relied upon to indicate "the breadth of the patent monopoly.

The use of the present package is not confined to eatables or medicines. It may be found equally applicable to any series of units which it may be desired to package individually in the same package.

I claim:

1. A package comprising a plurality of similar articles, a relatively long, narrow, flexible, helical wrapper, portions of which are lapped, wrapped tightly around the outer edges of said articles, portions of said lapped portions being positioned between adjacent articles, forming means separating an article from one next adjacent.

2. A package comprising a'plurality of similar articles, a relatively long, narrow, flexible, helical wrapper wrapped around the outer edges of said articles, portions of said wrapper being bent away from the helical surface and positioned between adjacent articles as said wrapper is wound about said articles whereby separating means are formed, the division between articles being covered by a succeeding turn of the wrapper.

3. A package, a number of similar superposed articles therein, a thin long narrow flexible wrapping strip wound in a helix about said articles, portions of said strip being bent out of the helical surface along the edges of said articles and positioned between adjacent articles said portions separating one article from another and forming a partition extending completely across said package in all directions whereby each article is completely individually wrapped and th entire package is wrapped by the same wrapper.

4. The combination set forth in claim 3, said bent portions of said strip being articulate tongues formed in one edge thereof.

5. A package, a number of similar superposed articles therein, a thin, long, narrow, flexible wrapping strip having a substantially continuous linear edge extending substantially throughout the length of said strip and wound in a helix about said articles, portions of said strip along the opposite edge being bent over said articles and positioned between adjacent articles whereby said articles are separated from each other.

6. A package comprising a plurality of articles in side by side relationship, a helical wrapper, portions of which are folded over and upon individual articles, the amount of said folded portions increasing as the wrapper progresses around an article until a base is formed for the succeeding article which is wrapped in turn.

'7. A package comprising a plurality of similar individually wrapped articles in side by side relationship, a relatively long, narrow, flexible, helical wrapper edge portions of which are folded over and positioned between adjacent articles in such a manner that said portions form separating partitions with adjacent articles bearing against the respective sides of said partitions whereby each article is separately wrapped in an individual compartment of its own.

8. A package comprising a plurality of articles, a single elongate wrapper sheet helically wrapped around outer portions of said articles, portions of said wrapper sheet being progressively folded over an inner portion of each article as the helical wrapper sheet passes from one article to another and separating the articles one from another by forming a wall between adjacent articles.

9. A package comprising a plurality of similar individually wrapped articles in side by side relationship, a relatively long, narrow flexible wrapper wrapped in a relatively tight helix about the outer portions of an article and progressing along it, some of the wrapper which extends beyond the outer portions of the said article being bent to cover an inner surface portion of said article and form a base upon which the next article may rest, said wrapper continuing in its helical formation about the outer portions of the next article and progressing along it, an inner surface portion of said second article being in turn covered by bent portions of said wrapper in increasing amount as it advances, said wrapper continuing on to the next article and the next whereby the wrapper provides a series of separate sanitary cubicles having dividing walls integral with the wrapper and formed by it.

10. A package comprising a plurality of similar articles in side by side relationship, a relatively long, narrow, flexible, helical wrapper around the outer edges of said articles, portions of said wrapper being positioned between adjacent articles as said wrapper is wound about said articles, said portions being covered by a succeeding turn of the helix whereby separating means are formed and the outer surface of said package is substantially imperforate.

11. The combination set forth in claim 1, said portions positioned between adjacent articles comprising tongues cut in an edge of the wrapper sheet.

12. The combination set forth in claim 1, an edge of said wrapper sheet having slits out therein.

13. The combination set forth in claim 1, an edge of said wrapper sheet having notches cut therein.

HOWARD NELSON MOORE. 

